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Past & Present Sliders

My hometown of Springfield, Ohio has several historic buildings and landmarks that are still standing today. It wasn’t until pretty recently that I started learning about the rich history of this city and it’s been amazing to learn about the history and significance of these building and landmarks that I’ve foolishly ignored throughout my life.

Something I really enjoying doing is trying visualize what a building or area in town was like several decades ago. When I worked downtown I parked about two blocks away from the office and during my walk I’d really try visualizing what it would have been like to walk downtown in the early to mid 1900’s. I’d try to imagine the sound of the traffic and crowd and even the smell of car exhaust and peanuts (my office was very close to were the Peanut Shoppe was located apparently and my grandfather told me how the smell of peanuts used to linger through the streets).

Unfortunately, I’ll probably never get to experience the downtown Springfield my grandparents remember but the next best thing for me are the countless photos I’ve come across from collectors, the Clark County Heritage Center and the Facebook page, Springfield, Ohio History. This collection of image sliders is something I put together to help me visualize the Springfield of the past in conjunction with the Springfield that I’ve grown up with and know today. I hope you enjoy comparing these images and if you have any stories or memories you’d like to share, feel free to leave a comment below.

Snyder Park Archway

Snyder Park Memorial Stone

Main Street

Snyder Park Rest House

Littleton & Son Funeral Parlor

Warder Residence / Jones Kenney Zechman Funeral Home

King Building Fire (1956)

The Crowell-Collier Building

The Lagonda Clubhouse Building

Francis Bookwalter Residence (on Fountain Ave.)

The Clark County Courthouse

Parade on High Street

South Limestone Street after the Blizzard (1950)

The Bushnell Building

8 thoughts on “Past & Present Sliders”

Thank you so very much for your sliders!! Very enjoyable & fascinating!! My parents took me shopping downtown a couple of times around 1964-65. I didn’t return until about 1972 to work at Wren’s (Bushnell Building). Very thankful that the exterior of it looks so similar!!

Very cool! I have grown up listening to my mom and her siblings talk about how they would always hang out downtown because that’s where everything was! I have always enjoyed picturing things the way they describe them. The replica of the old downtown at the Heritage Center is very fun to look at, with the modern day pictures of the area now. But, your pictures really show the history that we still have around town, and I hope we can continue to enjoy and preserve it!